^4 



THE nOUSEIIOLD. 



Wardlan Cases. — An illustration of a "Wardiau caso is herewith given. 

 A bed or box of well-drained soil, Avitli a (cheap "or costly) glass case over 

 it, comprise a Wardian caso. The sides should be of glass, else the plants 

 will " spinder iip." Take a common table frame, with the top of the tabic 

 off; nail on boards on the bottom of the frame, line the whole with zinc, fill 

 with earth (or set the plants in the case in potsi, and over it put a caso made 

 of glass — common window glass will answer. Anj' glazier can make one at 

 little cost. It may bo made of any shape and height desirable. There 

 should be a door or sliding pane in it, so as to gain ready access to the 

 plants. In the center of the bed should be a hole for drainage, over which 

 a plant saucer should be inverted. Pill the bottom or the bod for an inch or 

 two with broken charcoal. 



The case may be filled with plants in spring or autumn. If in spring, the 

 ferns may bo gathered from the Troods, and will grow all summer. It ia a 



better time to make selec- 

 tions than late in the fall. 

 Plants in a Wardian caso are 

 not so likely to freeze with 

 the same degree of cold" in a 

 room as unprotected lioiiso 

 plants ; but the room should 

 be ko]jt warm, nevertheless. 

 The plants in a Wardian case 

 reqiiire less care than plants 

 in a room. Drench the soil 

 well when the planting is 

 done, and they will require 

 watering but once cr twice a 

 month. They will need ven- 

 tilation by removing the slid- 

 ing pane or opening the door 

 of the case occasionally, when 

 the moisture on the glass 

 seems in excess, so as to ob- 

 scure the glass. 



Not only ferns and 

 mosses, but wintei-grceus, 

 princess pine, partridge 

 berry, the trailing arbutus, and scores of other pretty wood plants, can be 

 grown and arranged with rock and shell work, to suit the fancy and pleasa 

 the eye. We are astonished that these cases are not more common in the 

 homes of the people. 



Fresli-Blowii Flowers in Winter. — Choose some of the most perfect 

 buds of the flowers you wish to iireserve, siich as are latest in blooming 

 and are ready to open; cut them off witli a pair of scissors, leaving to each, 

 if possible, a piece of steyi about three inches long; cover the end of the 

 stem immediately with scaling wax, and when the buds are a little shrunk 

 and wrinkled wrap each of them iip sop irately in a piece of paper, perfectly 

 clean and dry; then lock them up in a dry box or drawer, and they will keep 

 without corrupting. In winter, or at any time, when you would have the 

 flowers blow, take the buds at night and cut olTtlio end of the stem sealed 

 with wax, and put the buds into water wherein a little nitre of salt has bccJi 



A WAKDIAN CASE, 



